Tires, brakes and battery: What does electric car maintenance involve?
If the car is to function safely for a long time, it must be serviced regularly. This applies to both combustion engines and electric cars. But what the experts look at during the inspection and which parts need to be serviced is where the e-car differs greatly from a gasoline or diesel vehicle. In this article, you'll learn what's important.
Maintenance is important. Whether it's a combustion engine or an electric car. The latter requires less maintenance than a classic combustion engine. While a gasoline or diesel engine has about 1,200 moving parts, an electric motor only has about 17 components. The oil change and the replacement of the spark plug are also completely eliminated in the electric car, which means that the vehicle has less wear. However, maintenance work is also essential for battery-powered vehicles to ensure safety and reliability. We have researched for you what needs to be looked at when inspecting your electric car and what costs you should expect for maintenance work on your electric vehicle.
E-car service: Which components are serviced?
An electric car usually consists of the body, the electric motor, a battery, a simple 1-speed automatic transmission and the power electronics. However, the battery is the most important component that needs to be checked regularly.
In the following overview, we explain what measures the specialists take when maintaining an electric car.
Minor maintenance work
Depending on the manufacturer and model of the electric car, this or parts of it must be serviced differently often and with varying effort. The following components show the most common maintenance requirements:
Tyre maintenance
The tires of an electric car are subjected to more stress than those of a combustion engine, as higher torque is possible. Tyre care and tyre changes are therefore indispensable for regular maintenance. The tread depth and tyre pressure are checked and the change from summer to winter tyres (or vice versa) is carried out.
Brake maintenance
When driving an electric car, the kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy, recovered and at the same time used as an engine brake. This ingenious technology is called recuperation and is the reason why the brakes in electric cars are subjected to less stress. Although this means that they need less replacement, they should still be subject to regular inspection. This includes functional testing, cleaning and replacement of the brake pads as well as refilling the brake fluid.
Checking the air filter
The air filter is central to the quality of the room in the car and so a regular check of its condition is also indispensable. If necessary, the air filter is replaced.
Electrical System Maintenance
In order to avoid spontaneous failures and to obtain information on charging times and the performance of the battery, the electrical systems are also regularly maintained. The experts check the cables and connections. The condition of the battery is also examined as part of the system maintenance and the latest system updates are also installed.
Checking the cooling system
Major maintenance work
In addition to minor inspections, major maintenance work is also required from time to time. These are usually noticeable via a warning signal or by the fact that the functionality of the component and thus of the electric car decreases. These include:
Air conditioning check
At the latest, if a strange smell forms when using the air conditioning system, its function must be checked, refrigerant replaced and the system disinfected.
Battery maintenance
The maintenance of an e-car battery includes cleaning the connections and cable connections. Although the lifespan of an electric car battery is about eight to 15 years, it is important to check its capacity. If necessary, it is possible to replace individual cell modules.
Checking the other high-voltage components
In addition to the battery, an electric car also includes other high-voltage components. These are checked for damage and checked for safety.
Elektroauto Wartungskosten
Grundsätzlich gilt: Die Kosten für die Wartung und Inspektion von Elektroautos sind tiefer als für Verbrennungsmotoren, solange keine grösseren Wartungsarbeiten stattfinden müssen. Dies liegt daran, dass sie über weniger komplexe mechanische Teile verfügen und keinen Ölwechsel benötigen. Laut Volkswagen sind die Wartungskosten beim Elektroauto um etwa 35 Prozent geringer als beim Verbrenner. Auch gemäss diesem Bericht von Blick liegen die Kosten für die Wartung von E-Autos tiefer. So kostete im Beispiel von Blick die Wartung eines Citroën E-Autos rund 100 Franken, während die Wartung eines vergleichbaren Benziners etwa 350 Franken betrug. Die Kosten können jedoch variieren, je nach Hersteller, Modell und Art der Wartung.
It is also important to know that some maintenance work on electric cars is quite expensive. This applies, for example, to battery replacement or battery maintenance work. The good thing is that such work usually occurs less often. Are you wondering what the maintenance of an electric vehicle means in general? Here you will find a comprehensive overview of the maintenance costs that should be expected for an e-car.
E-car inspection: When and where?
The display in the dashboard, which shows warnings or error codes, can be used to directly identify problems with the car. But regardless of this, an inspection is usually due every twelve months or according to the manufacturer's mileage recommendation. Most car dealers and authorised workshops in Switzerland offer maintenance services for electric cars, but maintenance work on the car's high-voltage system is carried out exclusively in trained companies and appropriately equipped workshops. The reason for this is that the mechanics have to check whether the high-voltage system is actually de-energized. If in doubt, always contact the dealer and ask for information regarding the maintenance work that needs to be done.
Protect your electric car and reduce maintenance costs
Good news: With little effort, maintenance work can be reduced to a minimum. By paying attention to a moderate speed when starting off, lower torque is achieved and you protect the tires. To extend the life of the battery, the car should not be left for a long time with a charge level of less than 20 percent. In addition, it can help not to charge the electric car to over 80 percent every time. We also recommend charging the car at home with alternating current whenever possible, instead of direct current at the fast charging station. It is also worthwhile to maintain the e-car in general. By regularly checking the fuses and lights, cleaning the interior and maintaining the bodywork, you can contribute to the longevity of your vehicle.
Regular e-car inspection pays off
At the latest when the warning lights on the dashboard light up or you notice unusual noises, an immediate check is advisable. Just as with the combustion engine, we recommend that the electric car be inspected regularly. This allows potential deficiencies to be identified before they develop into major problems. It also helps you ensure compliance with the manufacturer's warranty and service requirements.
source : Electric car maintenance: duties and costs | AutoScout24